Food & Fun at the Fair!

Matt at the Grundy County Fair

This was Matt's first experience feeding sheep and he really took to it!

Centennial Trail

A really nice hike for Cub Scouts! Xander and Matt are having a blast. So glad to hike this trail with such cool kids!

Time to hike at Isle a la Cache!

Making Lists of Work to be Done...

Well, I escaped the office and the never-ending A.C. to wander the rental properties and make lists of things I'd like to see repaired/ replaced/ updated this summer.

 It's amazing the things I notice when I take a peaceful walk with just a clipboard and pen. 

 The list is longer than I imagined it would be, and, Oh the joy of Freedom!

Enjoying a Rainy Day at Work

It's so funny how a rainy day can cloud my mind. 
Today I would've loved to stay in bed and listen to the rain. 
Just roll over and go back to sleep. 
But, work was beckoning me from across our little valley that is downtown Joliet. 
And so we are all here at work. 
Matt playing computer games, Aiden napping, Candi in her office.
And me...? 
I'm sitting here thinking about the building. 
Who's behind on rent? 
What storage closets aren't rented? 
What condition are the empty units in? 
Wonder if I should inspect occupied units? 
Think I'll sit here a spell and rethink my game plan. 
Re prioritize my projects. 
Have a blessed day, all and enjoy the rain!

Precision Practice

Well, Matt's moved up to mowing between the headstones. 

Still missing some spots, but, overall, a good job! 

 He's learning teamwork vs. joyriding. 

He wants to be one of the guys, so he must learn the job. 

 And, Volunteering is What Scouts Do!

Time to Work

Hey! We're at Oakwood Cemetery so Matt can learn the proper way to mow a cemetery.

Took a 'break' at home to make calls to prospective employees. It was so refreshing to sit out front in the hammock chair while I worked. Nice to be able to run three loads bedding and get two hung out on the lines out back. Nice to give the chickens fresh water. And, more importantly, nice to hear my son play with his friends while I worked. Now I am back at work; parked out front waiting for Candi to finish and come out. Maybe I can finish a couple hats while I wait for her?!

Pretty Deterent

Hi! Welcome back! This is one of the Prickly Pears a friend gave me when she thinned-down her garden. I am planting this at intervals around the perimiter of my property. Although it's a beautiful flower on the cutest little cactus, it is virtually covered in almost invisible thorns. The look says, 'please, come smell me and tooch my petals', but the pain to follow will, hopefully, keep uninvited guests from scaling the fence.

Post- Snack Munching

Well, they've abandoned the platter for a Narrow Leaf Plantain I just pulled up and tossed in!
Fickle little monkies, aren't they?!

Snack Time, pt. 2

Well, as you can see the children loved the snack! It's so funny to see them fight over a bit of onion or tomato! Wow, that guacamole is going fast!

Snack Time!

Time to set out tonight's snack! Guacamole that was getting dark, wilting lettuce and limes.
Let's head out back and see what the feathered children think!

Yes, that's my fence in the foreground!

A Last Minute Snack

Good evening! So nice to see you. Come around back and watch the chickens munch. I decided to crack open an apple/ pear/ rhubarb chutney I canned in 2004 to see if it was still good. It was, but I didn't need it for supper, so I threw it on the Liberty Platter.
Then I opened one of those generic beef stews and dumped it on the other end of the platter.
I love to see my feathered children standing in their food and chasing eachother over a tiny piece of potato when there are ten pieces still on the platter!

Eggplant was Yummy!

More Fresh Grass Clippings!

Hi! How are you doing this beautiful evening? Hasn't it been such a lovely day?
This evening I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a gas- powered weed-wacker. Now most of my proposed garden area is cleared and ready for a layer of cardboard covered by a layer of

How Sweet is the Harvest?!

Howdy! Amidst all the confusion and crazy reports on the news, it's always good to know you have the ability to put farm fresh home grown food on your family's table.
Our jam is all processed and ready for labels.

Mashing Berries for Jam!

Matt had such fun mashing the berries! He was my official berry-masher for this batch of jam.
Next batch I will have him do the measuring and stirring.
One step at a time I'd like for him to learn the process. That's plenty for a 9-year-old boy who'd rather be outside!

Time to Make Jam!

Hi! We found a bountiful supply of mulberries, strawberries and rhubarb!
Time to make fresh jam! We've been completely out of homemade jam for months and the wait for fresh home grown berries has been horrible. Worse than staring at the fireplace all of December waiting for Santa!
So now to begin the process of making jam~
Love in a Jar!